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I've seen various threads from Sanny, Scotroutes et al on the Cairngorms loops, but was after a bit of specific info. Off on a family trip to the 'gorms next weekend and looking for a few longer solo rides to do.
Really fancy the look of a loop taking in Glen Feshie, east towards Braemar then back north via the Fords of Avon back to Aviemore. The consensus seems to be that Strath Nethy is abominable and that the route to the east of Bynack more is better. Coupla questions:
Given that the forecast is dire for that week (wc23 Aug) is the route generally stony or marshy? Is it best to give it a miss unless it has been dry (not really talking about on the day weather, more conditions underfoot)
Wild Trails Vol 2 has the route described anti clockwise, which appears to put the more technical riding at the end of the day. My preference would be to switch it round to get the gnarr over with first, with much more margin for error/retreat/daylight and then leave the relatively benign looking western glens for later in the day when it'll be dark/late/tired etc. The question is, does this adversely affect the riding quality/feasibility?
I appear to have forgotten the third question. Never mimd
Tell Me..
I’d do it anti-clockwise - so up Bynack Mor first. Lairig an Laoigh is better this way. If the forecast is wet, Glen Geldie will be wet, although I’ve done it in the wet and it’s not too bad - just be prepared to be on and off the bike for an hour or so.
It’s quite a big ride, so assuming your fitness is up to it. I’d be setting aside 6 hours or so for it. There’s not really anywhere to bail unless you headed to Braemar.
many thanks mister fanylion (what really?), but you've confused me a bit. Perhaps I should have said that my planned starting point is somewhere near Aviemore. That said, can you clarify if you meant to say clockwise?
Is it really only 6 hours? I'd been assuming it was an all day thing, being 90km or thereabouts? (ie about 10 hours)
I think @shortbread_fanylion means clockwise is better as per the Cairngorms Loop. The route is mostly rocky apart from the bit from the end of the track by Geldie Lodge to where you pick up the paths at the top of Glen Feshie which is grassy/boggy. The boggiest bit is after the bridge over the Eidart.
Might be worth picking up a copy of the GPX from the Cairngorms Loop website as the tracks at the very top of the Feshie aren't obvious - the vehicle track crosses the Feshie a couple of times whereas the foot/bike route keeps to the true right bank.
The Lairig an Laoigh is better from N-S. Also as noted on the Cairngorms Loop thread the descent of Bynack Mor is littered with water bars varying from OK, OK, what the !!!!!!!
Looking at my Strava file for the Cairngorms Loop, I took ten hours from the café at Glenmore back round to Aviemore. That was at a reasonable pace, hesitant to call it race pace, but there was very little stopped time, most of that would have been prevaricating about crossing the Fords of Avon and checking I was on route. I checked Jenny Graham's time for that bit (she was first back in that year's group start) and she took 9hrs35mins. Don't underestimate it.
Edit: Just checked a report of a recent (very) fast time on the Cairngorms Loop by Huw Oliver, there's no timings exactly matching the inner loop but he probably did it in around six hours. I say very fast time, he made an error in Nethy Forest, without that he'd have done the fastest time for the CL.
Just checked Wild Trails Vol 2. It doesn't give 6hrs for the loop but 9-13hrs over two days with an overnight stop at the Fords of Avon.
OK, So Whitestone's North to South suggestion for Lairig an Laoigh fits in with my clockwise preference to get the gnrarr out of the way. Just leaves the fun of getting lost in Glen Feshie as darkness approaches:
Might be worth picking up a copy of the GPX from the Cairngorms Loop website as the tracks at the very top of the Feshie aren’t obvious
I wouldn't know what to do with a GPX TBH, but will take note of your suggestions on swapping sides.
Also, duly noted your caution around route length. Yep I concur that it looks like a big day out. Caveat Volvor and all that.
Sorry guys, yes, clockwise! The old brains not what it was. And yes, I was assuming starting from Aviemore.
Scotroutes should be along with more local knowledge about the paths and tracks in Glen Feshie but generally after the bothy keep the river well to your left - the estate put in a good track but it got washed away in a big storm not long after. Worth doing a general web search for info on it.
After you cross the Eidart by the rickety bridge you start dropping into Glen Feshie weaving in and out of an argocat type track. If you get to where it crosses the Feshie then you've dropped too far and need to go back about fifty metres where a faint track leads right, see this post - https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13427&p=165426&hilit=feshie#p165425
Have a look through the threads listed by this search: https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB3/search.php?keywords=feshie The second picture by htrider is the gully you need to cross rather than ford the river.
Given that the forecast is dire for that week (wc23 Aug)
Crazy stuff, there's a reason MWIS only go 2 days ahead in the mountain weather forecast.
Crazy stuff, there’s a reason MWIS only go 2 days ahead in the mountain weather forecast.
Yes, agreed. It is indeed a while away. The only reason I am giving it any credence is because it is rubbish forecast. 🙂
That's the Inner Loop. You definitely want Clockwise. As a stand-alone loop from Aviemore it's about 100km and 1,300m of climbing. Last time I did it, riding time was about 9 hours.
The bit between Bynack Mòr and Glen Derry is frustrating in places but don't be disheartened, you'll make up time elsewhere.
I'll pop up some route specifics about the Feshie section if you want but it's pretty straightforward until after the Eidart bridge and then again from Achlean farm.
The Cairngorms Loop takes to the road from there to Aviemore but it's better to follow the forest tracks/paths over Feshie Moor and past Inshriach Bothy, Loch Gamhna and Loch an Eilean.
I’ll pop up some route specifics about the Feshie section if you want but it’s pretty straightforward until after the Eidart bridge
That would be great. Looking at the one to fiddy it looks obvious, but by the sound of it there's more to it than can be seen on the map. Much appreciated.
Now all I need is a good way to get there and back from laggan hotel....
Surprised at the distance, I must admit. But I guess you’ve got what 8-10 miles from Aviemore to the main Bynack Mor climb and then a good 10 miles or so once the tarmac is reached in Glen Feshie.